COLLEGES from Orkney to Dumfries and Galloway are taking part in a week-long initiative, which launched this morning, to raise awareness of the assistance and expertise available to the business world.
As part of ‘Business Week’, colleges throughout Scotland will be opening their doors to employers to build stronger ties with enterprise and offer advice on how the college sector can support enterprise.
Scotland’s college sector currently assists more than 10,000 businesses across the country through workshops, training, certification programmes and apprenticeships.
Throughout the week a series of events will be taking place, designed to further strengthen the ties between business and further education.
At James Watt College local businesses are being invited to take part in a ‘business breakfast’ in partnership with Greenock Chamber of Commerce. The daily event, which will take place between 8am and 10am every day at the Finnart Campus, will give employers the chance to network with other business owners and college staff. There will also be a chance to learn about different funding opportunities on offer to companies.
On Tuesday, Dundee College will be offering businesses workshops on how to make the best use of Information and Communications Technology and deliver real return on investment.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Dumfries and Galloway College will stage its own business breakfast linked to Scottish Apprenticeship Week, also taking place this week. With the Scottish Government pledging to fund more than 25,000 Modern Apprenticeships over the lifetime of this Parliament, small and medium sized enterprises are being encouraged now more than ever to consider this viable route to staff employment. The College will have businesses and staff on hand to offer their experience and insight into the benefits of apprenticeships.
John Henderson, Chief Executive at Scotland’s Colleges, said: “With the global economy facing uncertain times, it’s important that Scotland’s education sector works in partnership with the business world to exploit the talent and expertise available in both fields. Scotland’s Colleges has been working hard to strengthen links between colleges and business for some time now and Business Week is just one of the initiatives designed to highlight this great work.”
For more information, including a full list of events taking place this week, log on to www.scotlandscollegesmeanbusiness.com.
